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Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts has been offering exceptional educational opportunities to students across the Illawarra for almost one hundred years. We have the twin goals of academic excellence and excellence in the performing arts. The school has a diverse student population with students travelling from as far as Engadine and Berry to participate in its educational and artistic programs.
Academic results are consistently above state average and performance standards are excellent. Our core values of safety, tolerance, achievement and respect provide the basis for a dynamic and caring school.
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Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts is a specialist co-educational, government secondary school offering exceptional educational opportunities to students across the Illawarra for almost one hundred years. It has the twin goals of academic excellence and excellence in the performing arts.
Wollongong High School was founded in December 1916 at the Smith's Hill location after much pressure and lobbying from the local district citizens' association and the municipal council to the government. It was officially opened by the minister for education, Mr James. It was built with six classrooms, a science room, a manual training room, a library and some offices. There was no electricity and the students had to use pan toilets in a shed. Founding headmaster Mr Frank McMullen opened the school for the first day of term on 29th January 1917, with 140 enrolled students.
In 1916, the school motto "Age Quid Agas" was changed in 1918 when it was realised that the translation meant "what on earth are you doing?" or "what are you doing?". It was changed to "Age Quod Agis", meaning "whatever you do, do well".
Alumni Awards
/News category
10 May 2024
Happy Mothers Day Celebrating you all today. Please go to the Gallery for all the photos taken of our Mums, Nans and Aunties on the day...
/News category
08 May 2024
2024 Illawarra Careers Expo Students from Years 10, 11 and 12 were fortunate enough to attend the Illawarra Careers Expo hosted by Work...
/News category
11 Apr 2024
Congratulations to students from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 who represented WHSPA in the Da Vinci Decathlon at TIGS this week. All students e...
/News category
10 May 2024
Happy Mothers Day Celebrating you all today. Please go to the Gallery for all the photos taken of our Mums, Nans and Aunties on the day...
/News category
08 May 2024
2024 Illawarra Careers Expo Students from Years 10, 11 and 12 were fortunate enough to attend the Illawarra Careers Expo hosted by Work...
/News category
11 Apr 2024
Congratulations to students from Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 who represented WHSPA in the Da Vinci Decathlon at TIGS this week. All students e...
/News category
10 May 2024
Happy Mothers Day Celebrating you all today. Please go to the Gallery for all the photos taken of our Mums, Nans and Aunties on the day...
/News category
08 May 2024
2024 Illawarra Careers Expo Students from Years 10, 11 and 12 were fortunate enough to attend the Illawarra Careers Expo hosted by Work...
/News category
Monday
20
May
20 May
8:30-2:30 AM
Please see attached document for details of the WHSPA Athletics Carnival. Regards Trevor Burnett - Carnival Coordinator
Thursday
30
May
30 May
6:30-9:00 PM
Mamma Mia! is a jukebox musical written by British playwright Catherine Johnson based on songs recorded by Swedish group ABBA and composed by members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The title of the musical is taken from the group's 1975 chart-topper "Mamma Mia". Regards Ruth Ellevsen - Head Teacher Music
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